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Indians-Pirates pregame notes

• There remains no timetable for Tyler Yates’ return to throwing, according to manager John Russell. Yates is in Florida with right elbow inflammation. Craig Hansen (neck) also remains shut down from throwing.

• Manager John Russell echoed the sentiments of general manager Neal Huntington and president Frank Coonelly that the Pirates should play the Indians every year as part of their interleague schedule. He noted the Pirates don’t have any true geographical rivals in the NL Central – unlike the Phillies in the old NL East – and the Indians could fill that role.

“Having Cleveland each year would be a very good thing for us,” Russell said. “I think it would be good for us and good for baseball.”

• Andrew McCutchen is only the second rookie in the past 25 years to have a triple in three consecutive games. The other was Luke Scott with the Astros in 2006. Only one player since 1947 has reached five triples in fewer games than McCutchen’s 17. That was the Phillies’ Jeff Stone (Russell’s former teammate) in 1983-84.

• Shortstop Jack Wilson will move into a tie for fourth place in Pirates’ history by playing in his 1,103th game at shortstop tonight. He will tie Jay Bell.